Rainy Days....

{ here is a peek { it was still pouring down rain, when I got home!}of the load I gathered today... Wonderful plants, from Sweet Val... And, the Gnarliest little Patio Set, from Jerri and Steel.... All is, truly right with the world...{ the Bloody Mary's { for medicinal purposes only} are a huge help...} I thought I would drown, today... The rain never let up!!!! Had to make deliveries to Pal Val, 2 heavy, heavy wonderful concrete planters... oh my.... They are so incredibly amazing... with winged creatures, and the 'Old Man in the Wind' on them... wow... I have never seen anything like 'em.... they have found a most wonderful home... Thought I would deliver them, early this morn, before the rain hit... ah...I was too late... we got soaked....{ they said it wasn't supposed to rain 'til after noon...} I had a green shopping bag, over my hair, that Val had in her garage... thinking it would at least keep that much dry...{ I had appointments, after leaving Val's...} well, the bag worked for all of 3 seconds... we both had our hands full, each on the end of a 175 pound urn, and the bag slips over my face... I can't see where I'm goin', the urn is too heavy to put down... Val can't help, and loose her grip....{ and, of course we are laughing... uncontrollably!} we turned around, and she walked backwards, guided me over rocks, hoses and entryways... oh my... just as I turned, to put it up on a ledge, my back went... I could feel just the tiniest little pull... but as I helped her load plants, in the pouring down rain { she donated tons of them, for the flood victims of Cedar Rapids, that are moving back into their homes! Yeah!} My back got worse and worse... I could barely make it into Val's house... But kept moving, and grumbled all day, but have done a few stretches, and am hoping it will come out of it by morning.... Got advertising done, in Vinton...{ about 40 miles north of Fairfax...} The Collector's Journal is such a great paper... It comes out weekly, and is very reasonable... It tells whats goin' on, here in the mid-west, for auctions, tag sales, antique shows and is fun to read! I love working with the Gals there...They are the Best! As I was heading home, I noticed I had missed a call... It was from my old friend Jerri, who lives in Van Horne...she and her Grandson, Steel, had run across some wonderful things, and by gosh, their place was on my way home! Yeah! They had some darling curved top windows, and the gnarliest little patio set... oh my! Steel helped load, and Jerri and I had a long overdue visit... all was right with the world! I think they are going to bring some fun stuff to the sale... I am sooo excited... I'm still a little stoved up, but, I'm nursing a Bloody Mary... {for medicinal purposes only...} Think I'll get out of these soggy clothes, and put my feet up... Didn't get a single thing done, here at home... I guess it will be tomorrow... after all... tomorrow is, another day.... Have a Wonderful Evening... Barb C.

The Saints

Thought it was fitting, to show an image of the Saints, and Jesus today... They all visited the Shop, last Fall, and have all found new homes now.... But, to see them, all together, was pretty amazing....

Barb C

...I Gotta Tell Ya....

After a day, bringin on the rain, yesterday, until I finally made sense of it, or put the crud behind me... and read the Word, the message intended for me, yesterday, that I should have read first thing... I decided this morning, I wouldn't make that mistake today, and picked up my book, and turned to August 2nd....

I gotta tell ya... I don't ever remember reading this...{ I know I have... but it takes on a different meaning, with every situation....}

{ Most of you know, I'm not a 'Holy Roller', profanity has rolled off my tongue, when I least expect it to... I like to have a few Marg's, when I'm out and about, and I just recently quit smoking... so... an Angel, I aint....}

But... The Mad Hatter, or the description of his character, I am...Especially the part of wearing his emotions, very close to the surface...{a bit 'mad' and unpredictable, I guess that fits too...} oh well...

Here is what I read...{ a portion of it}

I will turn all my mountains into roads. { Isaiah 49:11}

God will make our obstacles serve His purposes. We all have mountains in our lives, and often they are people and things that threaten to block the progress of our spiritual life. The obstacles may be untruths told about us; a difficult occupation; " a thorn in {the} flesh"{2 Cor. 12.7}; or our daily cross. And often we pray for their removal, for we tend to think that if only these were removed, we would live a more tender, pure, and holy life.

"How foolish you are, and how slow of heart...!"{Luke 24:25}.

The purpose of our trials is not only to test our worthiness but also to increase it, just as the mighty oak is tested by the storms as well as strengthened by them.

I just need to be reminded, sometimes... Get running so fast, trying to stay ahead of the 'steam roller', and forget to put God first...and, be thankful, for all the obstacles in my path...Instead of reacting immediately.... sit back, take a deep breath, stay focused...{ I'm also a Taurus...trusting, docile, land lover... til a red flag is waved in front of my brow... Oh my... anyone who knows me, knows this will take a lotta Faith... Whew.... I'm workin' on it....

The phone just rang...An old friend, who's been going through his own, misery, is coming to visit... He has climbed many Mountains... and fallen.... but, he always seems to climb again... He worries me, a little... He's taken a pretty nasty fall, this time...Think I'll share my message with him, today...

Turn that Mountain, into a Road....

Barb C.

{I'm working on the Shop, today... Cold and rainy out... Lots of fun stuff coming in, and I'll be setting displays... I love it.. it's like falling down the rabbit hole, spinning and spinning... almost like spinning a web... down to the tiniest detail... Just getting lost in the wonderful old treasures, that truly find their voice, when allowed to sing...}

Sympathy...

I love this old post card... It reminds me of my Sweet Pollyanna.... She's got my back, no matter... I keep this, on the old Linen Press, in my bedroom, it always touches my heart... I deleted the second half of the blog, this mornin... That's 'no matter' either... Read my 'Streams in the Desert',{ should have read it this morning... and I wouldn't have had such a sad day...} for July 23rd....{ just the page I was sent to} and it read...{ Sing... to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything. { Ephesians 5:19-20} No matter the source of evil confronting you, if you are in God and thereby completely surrounded by Him, you must realize that it has first passed through Him before coming to you. Because of this, you can thank Him for everything that comes your way.}

You know... I knew this... I have seen it... Everything, truly does happen, for a reason... This ugly thing, may have very much, needed to happen... for my own well being... it may be a small price to pay, today, and an incredibly costly one, down the road...if not brought to light...

I'll Sing... Thank God, for His Blessings....and let my little light shine.... { it takes more than this, to put it out....After all... tomorrow's another day, I'm thirsty anyway, so.... bring on the rain.... That's Life...}

A special note to Lois and Chery....

Lois, I hope you enjoy 'Streams', as much as I have...Chery was so sweet to get it for you, on Mother's Day... I have read mine, for so many years, I don't go by the date anymore... I let the Spirit take me to where I need to go... It's always right... always new.... always perfect...

You and Chery are so blessed to have each other....Mother and Daughter... but, best yet... Friends...

My Love to Ya...

Barb C.

Pots of Coffee...

I have started on my third pot of coffee.... Looking down the barrel of a Huge Sale, coming up, in little more than 2 weeks...{ lawn work, tents up, furniture ready, all the buildings bursting at the seams, { I'm nervous about opening the doors... ever seen a building 'projectile vomit'?} getting folks organized, and fielding last minute calls, to gather, for the sale...{ not to mention.. I have dear, out of state pals, visiting at the end of the week... can't wait... I am supposed to go to Bloomington, this Saturday... we'll see'''} the Steam Roller is nipping at my heels...} Looking back... I had a wonderful show, at Gold Rush.... Bought well, sold well, even tho, it rained and hailed and snowed, and blowed... Thank God, for Liz, who drove a truck, helped unload, and set the booth... Don't know what I would have done, without her...We had our traditional Saturday supper at Michaels... and even a surprise Birthday cake... I had actually forgotten, Thursday was my birthday.... Too many Irons, too many Fires... It was wonderful seeing everyone.. Curt, Nancy and Walter, Tom, Marleen, Gwen, Mark,{ I forgot to mention, Chery, Lois and MARY!!!! Her first real try out, since 'c' was found.... and GOTTEN RID OF!!!! They had the best stuff... and I truly enjoyed them being back, and tuffing it out! What women!} and so many other great dealer friends.... Not to mention, all of the best customers in the world... friends, really...{ I quit doing this show, several years ago...thought I needed a year off... I missed everyone, so much... I had to come back!} Janet and Connie... missed Sis, Linda... It was great to see Leah Ann, and sooo many blog followers... wow... I had no idea! Sorry I forgot the computer... and the camera's fricken memory card... tho, I was way too busy, or too tired to take pictures... Remember... too many irons, too many fires... Have a Wonderful Day.... Barb C.

We're Back!

A brief post... Exhausted... Great Show... No pics, forgot lap top... forgot memory card, for camera... no time to shop for a new one... Saw all the 'Gang'... I had forgotten how much I love, and miss them all, over the long winter... More tomorrow... Barb C.

20,000 Visits.... Thank You... From the Bottom of my Heart...

I just checked the 'site meter', at the bottom of the page... Since August, 10th, when my Daughter Liz, helped me put it on, the blog has had over 20,000 visits... Oh My! I love looking at it... It tells me, who you are, where you are from, how many miles away you live, and will basically take me to your back door... It even tells me your 'domain'. I have had folks from as far away as Japan, visit... Wow.... I can't tell you, how much I have enjoyed this Blog, and everyone who visits... I have been waiting for it to top 20,000, and today is the day!!!! If you don't have one, on your Blog... put one on... It's a real 'eye opener'! You will love it! Thanks for Visiting... You'll Never Truly Know...... how Very Much it has meant, to me... My Love, and Deep Gratitude, to All.... Barb C.

Hey Janet!

Hey Janet! Can't wait to see ya, and the Gal's at Gold Rush! Here is one of the Victorian Urns.... I have decided to keep one, that I already have planted, and have 2 available... I purchased these at an Estate Sale, in S.E. Cedar Rapids... It was a lovely 400,000 home, in one of the best neighborhoods... I think these had been there forever... The woman running the sale, hadn't priced them, they were on the walkway, and buried in the ground... I was fortunate... Had they been pulled, for the sale, they would have been long gone! This is a common form... 12 inches, inside diameter, 18 inches tall... the bases have some chipping, but the surface... well... that is what is so incredibly, uncommon... They are wonderfully, blackish, grungy, sparkly, with the crushed glass surface....that was used in the late 1800's...These urns are beautiful fragments of our Gardening Past.... I will bring them, they are on hold for you, and Connie... If you pass, no worries... someone else may love them, if not... I have a perfect place for them... right where I am taking them from! My Love to Ya! Barb C.

A Visit To 'Green Endeavors'

Here's Kathy! I purchased 3 monster flower baskets, that Kathy starts, in February! They are AMAZING!!!!

Made deliveries to Green Endeavors, on Highway 30 W. Mt.Vernon, Iowa....{ across from the beautiful Palisades Park!} Kathy has the most amazing new Greenhouse.... I couldn't help myself, had to load up, on her beautiful plants, and baskets... Oh my....I'm running hard, today, getting the truck loaded, and last minute things done... But, had to give you a 'heads up' on this wonderful place to find wonderful plants.... before I head out! {www.greenendeavors.net} Cathy's Grand Opening will be around May 11.... Don't miss it!

Barb C.